UN chief demands clear Iraq role
The United Nations role in Iraq needs to be defined much more clearly, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan says. Mr Annan said the capture of Saddam Hussein was an opportunity for a new beginning for Iraqis - and forming a provisional government was a priority. Mr Annan was addressing the UN Security Council during a debate on the future of Iraq. Mr Annan said the UN had not disengaged from Iraq despite appearances and was doing all it could from outside the country. But he said it was still too dangerous for the UN to return to Iraq, following the bombing of its Baghdad headquarters in August that killed UN envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello and 21 others. Mr Annan said the UN was ready to play its full part in helping Iraq from out of mortar range, but "much greater clarity" was needed as to what was expected from it.